Indoor Air Quality Issues

Public schools, licensed childcare, hospitals, and nursing homes
are regulated facilities governed by sanitary codes administered
under the authority of various Divisions and Bureaus of the Department
of Health and Senior Services. In most cases, however, the codes
are not specific to IAQ complaints.

For IAQ Complaints regarding Schools, the following steps are
recommended:

If the suspected problem is causing health concerns, consult
with a physician concerning the health of the individual (adult
or child). Many times illness attributed to poor IAQ is a result
of other factors.

If the physician decides the indoor environment may be the
source of or contributing to the health problems, consult with
other parents or staff to determine how large a group is ill.

Approach the school administration (superintendent, school board),
as a group if possible, to resolve the matter. Most schools have a vested
interest in resolving legitimate issues and will work to solve the problems.
Educational information and other resources for schools are available in the
EPA School IAQ site.
If further technical assistance is needed to determine the nature and extent
of the IAQ problem in the school, the local
public health agency may be contacted. If they need assistance, the Section for Environmental
Public Health can provide a limited indoor air quality assessment investigation
geared toward determining the cause of ill health effects, dependent on the
situation. The school can hire a private industrial
hygiene or environmental firm.